Growth and characterization of strontium metaborate scintillators

► We developed strontium metaborate borate scintillators for neutron detection. ► The borate crystals have been successfully grown by micro-pulling down method. ► Ce 3+ -doped borate showed intense Ce 3+ 5d-4f emission under a-ray excitation. ► The light yield was calculated to be about 1000 ph/n under 252Cf irradiation. The undoped and 0.5% Ce 3+-doped strontium metaborate SrB 2O 4 single crystals has been grown successfully by micro-pulling down method with radio frequency (RF) heating system, and scintillation characteristics including optical properties and radiation response were studied for these crystals. The Ce 3+-doped SrB 2O 4 crystal showed absorption band around 240–320 nm, which is corresponding to the 4f-5d transition of Ce 3+. Intense emission band at 375 nm due to the Ce 3+ 5d–4f transition was observed under 241Am 5.5 MeV α-ray excitation. The scintillation decay time showed fast (50 ns) and slow (1430 ns) components ascribed to the Ce 3+ 5d–4f transition and lattice defect in the crystal, respectively. The scintillation light yield of Ce 3+-doped SrB 2O 4 was calculated to be about 1000 ph/n under 252Cf irradiation.